Which geographic region is experiencing a significant share of these assaults on transit workers?

North America accounts for a significant share of the assaults on transit workers.

Which group of transit workers is among the most affected by assaults?

Bus drivers are among the most affected by assaults on transit workers.

What actions are being prompted by the increase in assaults on transit workers?

The rise in assaults is prompting calls for stronger safety measures to protect transit workers.

What kind of measures might be proposed to enhance the safety of transit workers?

Measures could include increased security presence, improved surveillance, and better training for dealing with aggressive situations.

Assaults on Transit Workers Rise, Prompting Calls for Stronger Safety Measures

New research from MTI shows a sharp increase in attacks on public-facing transit employees, with North America accounting for a significant share and bus drivers among the most affected.

Staff Writer・Editorial

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May 12, 2026

A bus operator behind the wheel — The US alone accounts for more than one-third of the global total, and the report authors, Brian Michael Jenkins and Bruce R. Butterworth, said that reducing the risk to transit employees is an immediate critical issue that requires attention.
Credit:
METRO

2 min to read

Recent MTI research highlights a significant rise in assaults on transit workers, affecting many in North America.
Bus drivers are identified as some of the most frequent victims of these public-facing attacks.
The findings lead to increased demands for robust safety measures for transit employees.

*Summarized by AI

A new study is raising concerns about the safety of public transit workers, as assaults on operators continue to rise across North America.

The report, "A National-Level Hazard: Growing Assaults on Transit Staff," released by the Mineta Transportation Institute, finds that incidents have increased sharply in recent years, with the US and Canada accounting for a significant share of global attacks — many involving frontline employees such as bus drivers.

Researchers say the findings highlight an urgent need for transit agencies and policymakers to address worker safety.

The study points to the unique risks faced by public-facing employees, who often work alone and are responsible for enforcing rules during routine passenger interactions, making them particularly vulnerable to assault.

Figure 1. Attacks in the USA and Canada 2003-2024 — The study points to the unique risks faced by public-facing employees, who often work alone and are responsible for enforcing rules during routine passenger interactions, making them particularly vulnerable to assault.
Credit:
MTI

Assaults on the Rise

The US alone accounts for more than one-third of global assaults, and the report authors, Brian Michael Jenkins and Bruce R. Butterworth, said that reducing the risk to transit employees is an immediate, critical issue that requires attention.

“The transit employees who were attacked were just trying to do their jobs, but their unique exposure as public-facing workers operating alone, easily accessible to their passengers and often being the ‘lone enforcer’ of transit regulations, puts them at higher risk,” said Butterworth.

The report explains that:

Violence primarily affects public-facing transit workers, especially bus drivers, onboard staff, and isolated employees.
Bus drivers account for 63% of attacks in the US and Canada.
Many incidents stem from routine passenger interactions (e.g., fare enforcement).
Over 85% of attacks are committed by lone individuals rather than groups; typically, adult males between the ages of 19 and 30, using no or improvised weapons.
There were a few links to organized crime or extremism, suggesting the trend reflects broader societal pressures.

“We urge transit agencies, unions, and policymakers to collaborate and take a serious, systematic look at the data so that specific risks can be identified in each system,” said Jenkins. “We also urge transit agencies to adjust or find procedures that improve worker safety and reduce the risk to transit employees.”